Orthogonal Tablet Punch Fastener Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tablet compression machines face challenges in efficiently connecting and aligning punch components with the head component, leading to misalignment and reduced longevity of punch components due to uneven force distribution during tablet formation.

Innovation Solution

A tablet punch design featuring an elongate fastener, punch components with orthogonal longitudinal extents, and a head component with specific holes and grooves for secure connection, allowing for orthogonal orientation and alignment, and a shoulder for abutment, which redirects forces and ensures proper alignment with the compression machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional connection methods are used to connect punch components to the head component, then the structure is simpler, but misalignment occurs and longevity is reduced due to uneven force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelongevity of punch componentsVSAvoidconnection structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure is divided into multiple functional elements: the elongate fastener for secure attachment, the shoulder for force redistribution, and the orthogonal hole arrangement for alignment. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally, improving reliability without creating an overly complex integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elongate fastener acts as an intermediary element between the punch component and head component, providing a reliable mechanical connection. The shoulder serves as an intermediary force transmission path that redirects loads away from the connection point, preventing uneven force distribution and enhancing longevity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If punch components are connected without orthogonal alignment, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but misalignment occurs during tablet formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidassembly simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The holes in the head component and punch components are pre-positioned in an orthogonal arrangement during manufacturing. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that when the components are assembled, automatic alignment occurs without requiring complex adjustment procedures, thereby achieving high precision while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The orthogonal arrangement of holes creates an asymmetric connection geometry that inherently guides proper alignment during assembly. The non-symmetric hole positions relative to the component axes provide self-alignment characteristics, ensuring accurate positioning while keeping the manufacturing process straightforward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Strength

If forces are not redirected during compression, then the structure is simpler, but punch components experience uneven force distribution leading to reduced longevity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce distribution uniformityVSAvoidforce redirection structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder is positioned at a specific location on the punch component to locally redirect forces away from the connection point. This localized geometric feature provides force redistribution functionality without requiring a complex overall structural redesign, thereby improving strength while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder converts the potentially harmful concentrated forces at the connection point into beneficial distributed forces. By strategically positioning the shoulder, the design transforms the force distribution pattern to protect the connection interface, turning what would be a weakness into a strength enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4335634A1A tablet punch

Publication Date: 2024.03.13 I HOLLAND LIMITED

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AI summary

A tablet punch (110). The tablet punch (110)comprises an elongate fastener (110) having a longitudinal extent, one or more punch components (120), each punch component (120) having a longitudinal extent and being arranged to receive the elongate fastener (110), and a head component (130). The head component (130), configured to connect the tablet punch to a tablet compression machine, is arranged to receive the one or more punch components and the elongate fastener (110) such that the elongate fastener fixedly connects the one or more punch components (120) and the head component (130) together. When the elongate fastener fixedly connects the head component and the one or more punch components together, the longitudinal extent of the elongate fastener is orientated substantially orthogonally relative to the longitudinal extent of the one or more punch components.